Info provided by Watertight Worthing Roofing:
Will Roofing Felt Stop Rain UK?
Do you know what roofing felt is and what it does?
The original reason why roofing felt is used was to serve as a temporary waterproof roof as homeowners build their roof. This particular method is something that has been used for over 100 years.
If the homeowner needs to remove their roof shingles for the weekend, the roofing felt will serve as the waterproof cover. The roofing felt temporarily protects the house from water damage throughout the week to allow the installation of the new shingles on the next weekend.
Roofing felt or also called tar paper is not only a volatile moisture barricade as this also functions as a protective layer between the shingles and the plywood. This is the saturated bitumen element known as asphalt. Roofing felt is compact fibre of wool made of polyester fibres or condensed fibreglass.
Although roofing felt serves as a protective layer, this can still get wet. However, even if it is wet, the roofing felt maintains its integrity until this is no longer exposed to the elements for over one or two weeks. Roofing felt can also break down due to the amount of moisture and under the sun.
Roofing Felt and What It Does
Although people continue to debate on whether or not it is still necessary to use roofing felt, there are many reasons why it remains useful.
While the roofers fix the roof shingles, the roofing felt acts as a safer layer where they can work on and help reduce the risks of accidental slips.
When roofing felt covers your home, it temporarily protects your home from the weather elements depending on the length of time it will take to construct the roof. It then creates a waterproof barrier between your home and the rain that may potentially pour down.
One more useful benefit of roofing felt is that it temporarily once your roof is already up and finished.
Roofing Felt as Moisture Barrier
A notable advantage of using roofing felt is that this also functions as a barrier from moisture. Once hot hair rises through the home and gets to the roof, the roofing felt will catch the air’s moisture content that condenses on the shingles’ underside.
It also prevents damages from occurring on the wood decking down the road. These days, the moisture barrier in the roof is extremely important because of how houses are constructed with some extras like double glazing that makes air circulation an issue.
People spend most of their time inside their homes and during bathing, cooking, and breathing of the occupants, lots of water moisture can build up and must find their way out.
Weather Resistant and Water Repellant
Once water gets under the roof slates or tiles, this can lead to damages to your belongings and even lead to rot, mould, leaks and severe structural damage.
Breathable roofing felt helps prevent water from entering and lets it drain off the home or building instead of leaking into it. Roofing felt also offers an extra protective layer if you are living in a place subject to snow and ice and can be used in many roof repairs.